Monday, July 25, 2011

Can men and women truly JUST be friends?

Picture this; you and your beau have been together for a number of years. Things are great for the most part. One day in passing while having a conversation he or she subtly announces that they have a new friend. A member of the opposite sex. Your partner claims there is nothing romantic going, they met at work or at a party and they happen to share a lot of similar interests.

What do you do? Do you immediately start thinking he or she is cheating or do you think that men and women can truly just be friends?

Let me be honest for a second, I believe that men and women can maintain platonic relationships. They can develop friendships with other people even if they are serious commitments. Who says your friends have to be limited to members of the same sex? In order for this to work it makes a ton of maturity and trust for all parties. More importantly the "new friend’s” character is also an important factor in all this. A good litmus test is if they can hang with you and partner at the same time with no issues or qualms then they are good to go.

I know some of you may be rolling your eyes but remember what I said about trust and maturity. Do you think Michelle trips about Barack being friends with Valerie Jarrett? Trust and maturity goes a long way. When Barack became President of the United States he certainly reached back and helped out his home girl Val. She is now the senior advisor to Barack. It helps to have friends in high places.

Now it’s your turn to speak up, can men and women truly have friends with no benefits?